The 44th Chess Olympiad, organized by The International Chess Federation, commonly referred by its French acronym FIDE is now in progress in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, India.It started on July 28 and will conclude on August 10. Ten Sri Lankan chess players are taking part this tournament. Former National chess champion Suneetha Wijesuriya who won chess Olympiad Gold medal in 1990,s is the highlight International chess medal won by a Sri Lankan.
The Chess Olympiad is a classic worldwide event where the best of the best compete against each other for their respective nations. The Chess Olympiad crowns the strongest national team which will be considered the strongest chess nation of that time and FIDE’s Team Champion.
This year’s Sri Lankan Chess stars that are competing in this long- awaited tournament will be as follows:
Open: 1. IM Susal De Silva, 2. FM Ranindu Liyanage, 3. FM Isuru Alahakoon, 4. K G T S D Kiriella, 5. Nabil Nazar Mohomed
Girls: 1. WIM Sachini Ranasinghe, 2. Desandhi Gamage, 3. Janandani Abeysinghe, 4. WCM Pasindi Wijesuriya, 5. WCM Minethma Wickramasinghe